What precautions should travelers take regarding TDAC scams when visiting Thailand?

Question

TDAC Warning!

I am not sure if this has been shared before but I was so surprised that it's right there in plain sight! -- A TDAC scam!

My daughter flew in last night and I forgot to tell her about the required TDAC requirement.  So in a hurry, I googled TDAC and found a legit looking form and sent it to her.

She filled it up but it came to a Payment page which seemed required to be paid by the traveller.  Told her that I knew that it was free, definitely no fees.

So I thought it was a glitch that she made -- so I did it for her and true enough -- there was a required $59.99 fee (in USD) and $20 for fastest 4 hour processing!

Hmm.... call the government contact center as I wondered if I missed the memo ...or some announcement.

Anyway, they gave me the correct website https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home  -- which was somewhere at the bottom of my search. Seems like the scammers are better at optimizing SEO than Thai government.

Just so shocked that the digital police can't keep this vital immigration site clear of scammers!

SHARE with your visiting family and friends!!

Ask Thailand · Answer

The post warns about a TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) scam, where unauthorized websites charge a fee for a service that is supposed to be free. The author shared their experience of mistakenly using a scam site for their daughter's TDAC submission, highlighting the importance of using the official government website. Comments from the community provide additional insights on the TDAC process, including that it can also be done at the airport and warning against falling for scams. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the need for travelers to verify information from official sources to avoid such scams.

David ****** · Answer

Your daughter would need to do this three days before her flight .

Simon ******** · Answer

There are arrival cards at the airport too.

Bent ************* · Answer

This has been shared about 10.000 times already.

John ********* · Answer

It’s free.. only stupid people get scammed 🤷🏾‍♀️

Elías ******** · Answer

Those sites are not scams, they're selling their services. Not needed, and a rip-off, sure, but legal. Just choose the free governments site and that's it.

Nongnuch ******** · Answer

if these sites you pay for actually get your TDAC done for you, it is not a scam but a payable service

THAI ****************************** · Answer

Yes, there are many scams. We maintain a long list of more than 20 scam websites that charge people for services that are actually free.

You can also use our agents portal here:

[url redacted]

It offers live support, works in more than 70 languages, and includes additional features such as resumable forms and the ability to arrange services like airport pickup, eSIMs, and other travel options.

Our form is also free if you submit it within 72 hours of your arrival date. If you prefer to submit earlier, even months in advance, that is possible for a small $8 service fee.

Please be careful and watch out for scam websites.

Bob ********** · Answer

Every country your required to fill out a digital arrival card has many of these scam sites

Per-Arne *********** · Answer

The government website is free and only takes seconds to receive it. There are screens before immigration where you can do the TDAC upon arrival ( at least at Suvarnabhumi )

Mitchell ******* · Answer

Yes, it is free.  You need to find the Thailand government immigration website.

Jim ********* · Answer

What a silly rookie mistake. No need to warn anyone with any brains, they already know.

What precautions should travelers take regarding TDAC scams when visiting Thailand?

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